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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-24-2024, 02:59 PM

Beisbol Sudamerica’s 1998 Hall of Fame voting saw three selections, each on the first ballot. SP Benjamim Alegre and CL Carlos Rodriguez were both slam dunks, getting 99.3% and 96.4%; respectively. 1B/DH Tobias Condori was less of a lock, but still got across the 66% requirement at 72.0%. Also above 50% were RF Dani Manzanares at 56.6% for his third try and RF Oscar Linares with a 51.6% debut.

Dropped after ten ballots was 3B Saul Puerta, who had a 21-year career with Valencia that saw three Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. He had 2930 hits, 1413 runs, 517 doubles, 498 home runs, 1513 RBI, a .267/.319/.461 slash, 125 wRC+, and 89.6 WAR. The accumulations seemed like more than enough, but he didn’t dominate leaderboards. Some voters dismissed him as a compiler and others were tired of guys from Valencia’s dynasty. Puerta debuted at 53.6% and peaked at 55.6% in his ninth try before ending at 32.2%. By hits and WAR, Puerta jumps out as one of the most notable BSA snubs.

Two others made it ten ballots, although both dropped below 3% on their last try. Closer Gilberto Sanchez won three Reliever of the Year awards, but left for MLB and hurt his accumulations. His BSA stats had 295 saves, 2.53 ERA, 698 innings, 816 strikeouts, and 19.8 WAR. Meanwhile, LF Salvador Argandona had a 19-year run mostly with Barquisimeto. He won two Silver Sluggers and had 2903 hits, 1193 runs, 451 doubles, 213 triples, 230 home runs, 1153 RBI, a .316/.339/.486 slash, and 64.5 WAR. Argandona lacked the power numbers or playoff accolades to get much attention despite some very solid tallies.

Benjamim Alegre – Starting Pitcher – Belo Horizonte Hogs – 99.3% First Ballot

Benjamim Alegre was a 6’1’’ 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Piracaia, Brazil, a small city of around 27,000 people in the state of Sao Paulo. Alegre had incredible stuff with excellent control and very good movement. He only had three pitches, but was a master at changing speeds. Alegre had a 97-99 mph cutter, a devastating changeup, and a good curveball. He had solid stamina and was a great defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1979. Alegre also won a Silver Slugger in 1983 and was a decent bat for a pitcher with a .212 batting average. He was a very hard worker and became one of Brazil’s most beloved based icons.

Alegre’s pro career began after being drafted in the second round of the 1976 BSA Draft, selected by Belo Horizonte with the 44^th overall pick. He was a part-time starter in 1977, looking okay as a rookie. Alegre was a full-time starter the next year and quickly emerged as elite. He would light up the leaderboards in the next decade for the Hogs. From 1979-86, he led the Southern Cone League in pitching WAR eight straight seasons. Five of those seasons, he posted double-digit WAR.

In that stretch, Alegre also led the league in wins twice, ERA four times, strikeouts thrice, WHIP four times, K/BB twice, FIP- seven times, and shutouts thrice. He became the first pitcher in Beisbol Sudamerica history to earn two Triple Crowns, doing it in 1982 and 1983. As of 2037, he and Lazaro Rodriguez are the only two to earn that feat. Alegre tossed two no-hitters in his career with the first on 7/28/1980 with 17 strikeouts and one walk against Rosario. Two years later on 7/14/82, he did it again versus the Robins, fanning 15 with no walks.

Naturally, this dominance made Alegre a regular in the Pitcher of the Year ranks. He won the award for the first time in 1980, then took it four consecutive years from 1982-85. Alegre was the third pitcher in Southern Cone League history to win it five times. His Triple Crown 1982 was so good (career bests in ERA at 1.62 and strikeouts at 382) that he also took league MVP. Alegre was also second in 1979 POTY voting, third in 1981, and second in 1986.

Alegre became nationally beloved from his time with the Brazilian national team in the World Baseball Championship. He tossed 234.2 WBC innings between a 1979-83 run and 1986-91 tenure, posting a 19-11 record, 3.38 ERA, 298 strikeouts, and 4.5 WAR. Alegre claimed world titles with Brazil in 1987, 1989, and 1990.

Despite his dominance, it didn’t translate into team success with Belo Horizonte. The Hogs were decidedly mid towards the start of his run. They hoped to change that led by Alegre, signing him to a seven-year, $5,850,000 contract extension after the 1983 season. BH posted some winning seasons in the mid 1980s, but only made the playoffs twice during his time. He had two good starts in 1985 and two weak ones in 1988. Both times, Belo Horizonte was unable to win a series.

Elbow inflammation would become a recurring issue in his final seasons with Belo Horizonte, costing him a couple starts each year. Alegre’s strikeout numbers started to wane a bit, but he was still quite good. Even though the Hogs made the playoffs in the 1988 campaign and seemed to be on an upswing, Alegre decided to opt out of the remainder of his contract. It disappointed many fans, but he still remained a beloved figure for years after. Alegre’s #32 uniform would get retired after the 1992 season.

Entering the 1989 campaign, the 33-year old was a free agent for the first time. Alegre’s past successes had worldwide attention and he found his way to America. MLB’s Indianapolis Racers signed him to a five-year, $8,600,000 contract. He had an impressive debut, leading the National Association in WAR, wins, and quality starts. Alegre took second in Pitcher of the Year voting, although Indy remained a middling squad.

Sadly, that would be Alegre’s last hurrah. His velocity took a notable dip by a few miles per hour and he had more elbow issues, looking merely above average in 1990. Alegre tore his meniscus in early 1991 and looked lousy when he returned late in the season. He made only three relief appearances at the start of 1992 before being released by Indianapolis. For his Racers run, Alegre had a 35-26 record, 2.86 ERA, 528.1 innings, 418 strikeouts, 123 ERA+, and 13.9 WAR.

Toronto signed him soon after getting cut, but he was sparingly used in relief. The Timberwolves cut him in August and Alegre decided to return home to Brazil. Sao Paulo gave him a shot to finish the season, looking okay in seven starts. He made one playoff start for the Padres, fittingly against his old team Belo Horizonte. Alegre opted to retire that winter at age 37.

For his BSA run, Alegre had a 194-107 record, 2.25 ERA, 2770.1 innings, 3809 strikeouts, 434 walks, 257/334 quality starts, 153 ERA+, 56 FIP-, and 103.3 WAR. His Hogs tenure was one of the finest decades any pitcher in the league had ever seen. Alegre didn’t have the longevity to be at the top of the accumulations, but he’s still 16^th in pitching WAR as of 2037. For his entire pro career, he had a 231-133 record, 2.36 ERA, 3332.2 innings, 4246 strikeouts, 509 walks, 147 ERA+, 59 FIP-, and 117.6 WAR. Alegre was very much the pitcher of the 1980s in Brazilian baseball and was an easy first ballot choice at 99.3% for the 1998 class.

Carlos Rodriguez – Closer – La Paz Pump Jacks – 96.4% First Ballot

Carlos Rodriguez was a 6’1’’, 205 pound right-handed relief pitcher from Potosi, Bolivia; a city of around 350,000 within its metro area. It is also one of the highest cities in the world at more than 13,400 feet above sea level. Rodriguez had very good control with solid stuff and above average movement. He had the one-two punch of a 94-96 cutter and an absolutely filthy curveball. Rodriguez was an ironman with a very high inning tally for someone who was exclusively a reliever. He was also a team captain, known for his great leadership and loyalty.

Rodriguez received some attention even as a teenage prospect. In the 1970 BSA Draft, Maracaibo picked him in the fourth round with the 86^th overall pick. Rodriguez decided to begin a college career instead, next becoming eligible in the 1973 BSA Draft. The second time around, he was selected late in the second round, 53^rd overall, by La Paz. Rodriguez made his official debut in 1974 with two relief appearances, although he only saw a total of 13.1 innings in his first two years.

Rodriguez graduated to middle relief in 1976 and 1977. He took over the closer role in 1978 and held it for the next four seasons with the Pump Jacks. Rodriguez placed third in 1979 Reliever of the Year voting. He really made his mark that year in the playoffs, posting a 0.77 ERA and four saves over 11.2 innings with 13 strikeouts, helping La Paz to its first Bolivar League pennant since their 1940s dynasty. The Pump jacks would fall to Salvador in Copa Sudamerica.

Rodriguez always had love for his home country and played with Bolivia’s World Baseball Championship squad from 1976-93. He was split between starting and relief in his WBC tenure, posting a 14-10 record and 2.88 ERA over 178 innings, 218 strikeouts, 129 ERA+, and 6.0 WAR. Rodriguez would be disappointed to leave home though when La Paz traded him for the 1982 season to Salvador in exchange for prospect Martin Galvan and a draft pick.

In his debut with the Storm, he took third in Reliever of the Year voting. He was moved out of the closer spot the next year though, posting a 2.39 ERA over 146.2 innings and 1.6 WAR during his time there. A free agent for the first time at age 32, Rodriguez returned to La Paz. Whereas many relievers bounce around sporadically in their 30s, Rodriguez would spend the next eight seasons as the Pump Jacks closer.

He finally won his lone Reliever of the Year in 1986 with a career best 1.68 ERA and 4.0 WAR. He led the league in saves for the only time in 1987 with a career-best 45, taking second in ROTY voting. La Paz was stuck in the middle tier in his return, but he stayed steady in the closer role. The Pump Jacks would retire his #28 uniform at the end of his career for his lengthy service. His longevity helped him become the fourth reliever in Beisbol Sudamerica history to make it to 450 career saves.

Rodriguez’s production stayed remarkably steady through his 30s, but he finally started to regress as he turned 40. La Paz decided to trade him in the summer of 1992 to Concepcion for catcher Silvano Villarreal. Rodriguez finished the season with the Chiefs and looked for work in 1993. He was just short of becoming the second pitcher to reach 500 career saves. He pitched in that year’s WBC, but couldn’t find a buyer. He retired at age 42 in the winter of 1993.

Rodriguez finished with 496 saves and 560 shutdowns, 2.52 ERA, 1110 games, 1345 innings, 1468 strikeouts, 294 walks, 142 ERA+, 73 FIP-, and 34.8 WAR. He retired second all-time in both saves and games pitched, behind only Jonathan Iglesias’s 579 saves and 1256 games. Compared to other Hall of Fame relievers in BSA, Rodriguez was less dominant with a weaker ERA, WAR, and strikeout rate than most of them. But longevity and reliability go a long way, plus not many guys in any world league have gotten that close or beyond the 500 save threshold. The BSA voters didn’t need to think twice with Rodriguez, giving him 96.4% for a first ballot selection within the 1998 class.

Tobias Condori – First Base/Designated Hitter – Callao Cats – 72.0% First Ballot

Tobias Condori was a 6’0’’, 190 pound right-handed first baseman from the capital of Peru, Lima. Condori was a well-rounded hitter who combined good contact skills, solid power, and a reliable eye. He averaged 40+ home runs per 162 games over his career. Condori also got you around 20 doubles per year. He was a smart baserunner, but was limited by subpar speed. Condori split his career fairly evenly between first base and designated hitter and graded out as a lousy defender. His bat was plenty good though to always have a spot somewhere in the lineup. Condori worked hard and was loyal, becoming a fan favorite that was very popular with Peruvian baseball fans.

Condori was drafted as a teenager based on his immense potential as a bat. Callao selected him eighth overall in the 1975 BSA Draft. He officially debuted in 1978 at age 22 with one at-bat (a strikeout). Condori was a part-time starter in 1979 for his actual rookie season. He was decent in his first two seasons, then missed the front half of his third campaign with a severely strained hip muscle. That would be Condori’s only significant injury, as he started 130+ games each year for the next 12 years.

Condori really burst into relevance by leading the Bolivar League with 50 home runs in 1982. That success got him paid, as Callao inked an eight-year, $3,980,000 contract extension in spring 1983. He would remain steady for the next few seasons, but he didn’t win any major awards early in his career. Condori also didn’t get a ton of attention as Callao was consistently one of the worst teams in the league during his tenure. The Cats posted a losing record each season of the 1970s and 1980s.

Condori would shine though for Peru in the World Baseball Championship. From 1980-94, he played 123 games with 121 hits, 81 runs, 26 doubles, 43 home runs, 109 RBI, a .277/.366/.632 slash, and 6.9 WAR. Condori was still a fan favorite and one of the only redeeming parts of that era’s Callao Cats. But his Hall of Fame potential really appeared when he hit his 30s.

In 1988 at age 32, Condori led the league in home runs (50) and RBI (123) and posted a career best 7.8 WAR. That won him his first Silver Slugger as a DH. The next year, he socked 61 dingers with 7.2 WAR, which nabbed him a third in MVP voting. Condori was less dominant in 1990, but posted a league-best 123 RBI in 1991 to win his second Silver Slugger (this one at 1B). Callao also finally posted a winning season at 85-77, but even despite his loyalty, Condori opted for free agency. He’d still be loved by Cats fans and his #16 uniform would later be retired.

He stayed nearby though, remaining in Peru and signing a one year deal with Lima. The Lobos were the two-time defending Bolivar League champ and Condori thought this would be his best shot to get that elusive ring. He won his third Silver Slugger in his lone season with the Lobos, hitting 49 home runs with 122 RBI. Lima improved their record to 103-59, but suffered a first round playoff upset to Medellin. It would be Condori’s only time playing in the postseason for his career. It also ended his South American career.

Condori loved his native Peru, but it was hard to say no when MLB money came calling. For 1993, the 37-year old signed a three-year, $7,040,000 deal with Oakland. Condori started that year, but was firmly below average at the plate. After a mediocre start to 1994, the Owls released him in late June. Condori was unsigned for the rest of the season and retired that winter at age 38.

For his Beisbol Sudamerica career, Condori had 2246 hits, 1195 runs, 270 doubles, 552 home runs, 1333 RBI, 658 walks, a .295/.353/.553 slash, 150 wRC+, and 66.6 WAR. The rate stats were certainly solid, but his grand tallies were on the lower end compared to other Hall of Famers. Condori also lacked big awards and was exiled on some truly awful teams. But he was very well liked and respected, which certainly boosted his case. Condori didn’t cross the 66% requirement by much, but 72.0% on his ballot debut got him in to round out the BSA 1998 class.

03-24-2024, 02:59 PM	#1091
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,643	1998 BSA Hall of Fame Beisbol Sudamerica’s 1998 Hall of Fame voting saw three selections, each on the first ballot. SP Benjamim Alegre and CL Carlos Rodriguez were both slam dunks, getting 99.3% and 96.4%; respectively. 1B/DH Tobias Condori was less of a lock, but still got across the 66% requirement at 72.0%. Also above 50% were RF Dani Manzanares at 56.6% for his third try and RF Oscar Linares with a 51.6% debut. Dropped after ten ballots was 3B Saul Puerta, who had a 21-year career with Valencia that saw three Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. He had 2930 hits, 1413 runs, 517 doubles, 498 home runs, 1513 RBI, a .267/.319/.461 slash, 125 wRC+, and 89.6 WAR. The accumulations seemed like more than enough, but he didn’t dominate leaderboards. Some voters dismissed him as a compiler and others were tired of guys from Valencia’s dynasty. Puerta debuted at 53.6% and peaked at 55.6% in his ninth try before ending at 32.2%. By hits and WAR, Puerta jumps out as one of the most notable BSA snubs. Two others made it ten ballots, although both dropped below 3% on their last try. Closer Gilberto Sanchez won three Reliever of the Year awards, but left for MLB and hurt his accumulations. His BSA stats had 295 saves, 2.53 ERA, 698 innings, 816 strikeouts, and 19.8 WAR. Meanwhile, LF Salvador Argandona had a 19-year run mostly with Barquisimeto. He won two Silver Sluggers and had 2903 hits, 1193 runs, 451 doubles, 213 triples, 230 home runs, 1153 RBI, a .316/.339/.486 slash, and 64.5 WAR. Argandona lacked the power numbers or playoff accolades to get much attention despite some very solid tallies. Benjamim Alegre – Starting Pitcher – Belo Horizonte Hogs – 99.3% First Ballot Benjamim Alegre was a 6’1’’ 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Piracaia, Brazil, a small city of around 27,000 people in the state of Sao Paulo. Alegre had incredible stuff with excellent control and very good movement. He only had three pitches, but was a master at changing speeds. Alegre had a 97-99 mph cutter, a devastating changeup, and a good curveball. He had solid stamina and was a great defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1979. Alegre also won a Silver Slugger in 1983 and was a decent bat for a pitcher with a .212 batting average. He was a very hard worker and became one of Brazil’s most beloved based icons. Alegre’s pro career began after being drafted in the second round of the 1976 BSA Draft, selected by Belo Horizonte with the 44^th overall pick. He was a part-time starter in 1977, looking okay as a rookie. Alegre was a full-time starter the next year and quickly emerged as elite. He would light up the leaderboards in the next decade for the Hogs. From 1979-86, he led the Southern Cone League in pitching WAR eight straight seasons. Five of those seasons, he posted double-digit WAR. In that stretch, Alegre also led the league in wins twice, ERA four times, strikeouts thrice, WHIP four times, K/BB twice, FIP- seven times, and shutouts thrice. He became the first pitcher in Beisbol Sudamerica history to earn two Triple Crowns, doing it in 1982 and 1983. As of 2037, he and Lazaro Rodriguez are the only two to earn that feat. Alegre tossed two no-hitters in his career with the first on 7/28/1980 with 17 strikeouts and one walk against Rosario. Two years later on 7/14/82, he did it again versus the Robins, fanning 15 with no walks. Naturally, this dominance made Alegre a regular in the Pitcher of the Year ranks. He won the award for the first time in 1980, then took it four consecutive years from 1982-85. Alegre was the third pitcher in Southern Cone League history to win it five times. His Triple Crown 1982 was so good (career bests in ERA at 1.62 and strikeouts at 382) that he also took league MVP. Alegre was also second in 1979 POTY voting, third in 1981, and second in 1986. Alegre became nationally beloved from his time with the Brazilian national team in the World Baseball Championship. He tossed 234.2 WBC innings between a 1979-83 run and 1986-91 tenure, posting a 19-11 record, 3.38 ERA, 298 strikeouts, and 4.5 WAR. Alegre claimed world titles with Brazil in 1987, 1989, and 1990. Despite his dominance, it didn’t translate into team success with Belo Horizonte. The Hogs were decidedly mid towards the start of his run. They hoped to change that led by Alegre, signing him to a seven-year, $5,850,000 contract extension after the 1983 season. BH posted some winning seasons in the mid 1980s, but only made the playoffs twice during his time. He had two good starts in 1985 and two weak ones in 1988. Both times, Belo Horizonte was unable to win a series. Elbow inflammation would become a recurring issue in his final seasons with Belo Horizonte, costing him a couple starts each year. Alegre’s strikeout numbers started to wane a bit, but he was still quite good. Even though the Hogs made the playoffs in the 1988 campaign and seemed to be on an upswing, Alegre decided to opt out of the remainder of his contract. It disappointed many fans, but he still remained a beloved figure for years after. Alegre’s #32 uniform would get retired after the 1992 season. Entering the 1989 campaign, the 33-year old was a free agent for the first time. Alegre’s past successes had worldwide attention and he found his way to America. MLB’s Indianapolis Racers signed him to a five-year, $8,600,000 contract. He had an impressive debut, leading the National Association in WAR, wins, and quality starts. Alegre took second in Pitcher of the Year voting, although Indy remained a middling squad. Sadly, that would be Alegre’s last hurrah. His velocity took a notable dip by a few miles per hour and he had more elbow issues, looking merely above average in 1990. Alegre tore his meniscus in early 1991 and looked lousy when he returned late in the season. He made only three relief appearances at the start of 1992 before being released by Indianapolis. For his Racers run, Alegre had a 35-26 record, 2.86 ERA, 528.1 innings, 418 strikeouts, 123 ERA+, and 13.9 WAR. Toronto signed him soon after getting cut, but he was sparingly used in relief. The Timberwolves cut him in August and Alegre decided to return home to Brazil. Sao Paulo gave him a shot to finish the season, looking okay in seven starts. He made one playoff start for the Padres, fittingly against his old team Belo Horizonte. Alegre opted to retire that winter at age 37. For his BSA run, Alegre had a 194-107 record, 2.25 ERA, 2770.1 innings, 3809 strikeouts, 434 walks, 257/334 quality starts, 153 ERA+, 56 FIP-, and 103.3 WAR. His Hogs tenure was one of the finest decades any pitcher in the league had ever seen. Alegre didn’t have the longevity to be at the top of the accumulations, but he’s still 16^th in pitching WAR as of 2037. For his entire pro career, he had a 231-133 record, 2.36 ERA, 3332.2 innings, 4246 strikeouts, 509 walks, 147 ERA+, 59 FIP-, and 117.6 WAR. Alegre was very much the pitcher of the 1980s in Brazilian baseball and was an easy first ballot choice at 99.3% for the 1998 class. Carlos Rodriguez – Closer – La Paz Pump Jacks – 96.4% First Ballot Carlos Rodriguez was a 6’1’’, 205 pound right-handed relief pitcher from Potosi, Bolivia; a city of around 350,000 within its metro area. It is also one of the highest cities in the world at more than 13,400 feet above sea level. Rodriguez had very good control with solid stuff and above average movement. He had the one-two punch of a 94-96 cutter and an absolutely filthy curveball. Rodriguez was an ironman with a very high inning tally for someone who was exclusively a reliever. He was also a team captain, known for his great leadership and loyalty. Rodriguez received some attention even as a teenage prospect. In the 1970 BSA Draft, Maracaibo picked him in the fourth round with the 86^th overall pick. Rodriguez decided to begin a college career instead, next becoming eligible in the 1973 BSA Draft. The second time around, he was selected late in the second round, 53^rd overall, by La Paz. Rodriguez made his official debut in 1974 with two relief appearances, although he only saw a total of 13.1 innings in his first two years. Rodriguez graduated to middle relief in 1976 and 1977. He took over the closer role in 1978 and held it for the next four seasons with the Pump Jacks. Rodriguez placed third in 1979 Reliever of the Year voting. He really made his mark that year in the playoffs, posting a 0.77 ERA and four saves over 11.2 innings with 13 strikeouts, helping La Paz to its first Bolivar League pennant since their 1940s dynasty. The Pump jacks would fall to Salvador in Copa Sudamerica. Rodriguez always had love for his home country and played with Bolivia’s World Baseball Championship squad from 1976-93. He was split between starting and relief in his WBC tenure, posting a 14-10 record and 2.88 ERA over 178 innings, 218 strikeouts, 129 ERA+, and 6.0 WAR. Rodriguez would be disappointed to leave home though when La Paz traded him for the 1982 season to Salvador in exchange for prospect Martin Galvan and a draft pick. In his debut with the Storm, he took third in Reliever of the Year voting. He was moved out of the closer spot the next year though, posting a 2.39 ERA over 146.2 innings and 1.6 WAR during his time there. A free agent for the first time at age 32, Rodriguez returned to La Paz. Whereas many relievers bounce around sporadically in their 30s, Rodriguez would spend the next eight seasons as the Pump Jacks closer. He finally won his lone Reliever of the Year in 1986 with a career best 1.68 ERA and 4.0 WAR. He led the league in saves for the only time in 1987 with a career-best 45, taking second in ROTY voting. La Paz was stuck in the middle tier in his return, but he stayed steady in the closer role. The Pump Jacks would retire his #28 uniform at the end of his career for his lengthy service. His longevity helped him become the fourth reliever in Beisbol Sudamerica history to make it to 450 career saves. Rodriguez’s production stayed remarkably steady through his 30s, but he finally started to regress as he turned 40. La Paz decided to trade him in the summer of 1992 to Concepcion for catcher Silvano Villarreal. Rodriguez finished the season with the Chiefs and looked for work in 1993. He was just short of becoming the second pitcher to reach 500 career saves. He pitched in that year’s WBC, but couldn’t find a buyer. He retired at age 42 in the winter of 1993. Rodriguez finished with 496 saves and 560 shutdowns, 2.52 ERA, 1110 games, 1345 innings, 1468 strikeouts, 294 walks, 142 ERA+, 73 FIP-, and 34.8 WAR. He retired second all-time in both saves and games pitched, behind only Jonathan Iglesias’s 579 saves and 1256 games. Compared to other Hall of Fame relievers in BSA, Rodriguez was less dominant with a weaker ERA, WAR, and strikeout rate than most of them. But longevity and reliability go a long way, plus not many guys in any world league have gotten that close or beyond the 500 save threshold. The BSA voters didn’t need to think twice with Rodriguez, giving him 96.4% for a first ballot selection within the 1998 class. Tobias Condori – First Base/Designated Hitter – Callao Cats – 72.0% First Ballot Tobias Condori was a 6’0’’, 190 pound right-handed first baseman from the capital of Peru, Lima. Condori was a well-rounded hitter who combined good contact skills, solid power, and a reliable eye. He averaged 40+ home runs per 162 games over his career. Condori also got you around 20 doubles per year. He was a smart baserunner, but was limited by subpar speed. Condori split his career fairly evenly between first base and designated hitter and graded out as a lousy defender. His bat was plenty good though to always have a spot somewhere in the lineup. Condori worked hard and was loyal, becoming a fan favorite that was very popular with Peruvian baseball fans. Condori was drafted as a teenager based on his immense potential as a bat. Callao selected him eighth overall in the 1975 BSA Draft. He officially debuted in 1978 at age 22 with one at-bat (a strikeout). Condori was a part-time starter in 1979 for his actual rookie season. He was decent in his first two seasons, then missed the front half of his third campaign with a severely strained hip muscle. That would be Condori’s only significant injury, as he started 130+ games each year for the next 12 years. Condori really burst into relevance by leading the Bolivar League with 50 home runs in 1982. That success got him paid, as Callao inked an eight-year, $3,980,000 contract extension in spring 1983. He would remain steady for the next few seasons, but he didn’t win any major awards early in his career. Condori also didn’t get a ton of attention as Callao was consistently one of the worst teams in the league during his tenure. The Cats posted a losing record each season of the 1970s and 1980s. Condori would shine though for Peru in the World Baseball Championship. From 1980-94, he played 123 games with 121 hits, 81 runs, 26 doubles, 43 home runs, 109 RBI, a .277/.366/.632 slash, and 6.9 WAR. Condori was still a fan favorite and one of the only redeeming parts of that era’s Callao Cats. But his Hall of Fame potential really appeared when he hit his 30s. In 1988 at age 32, Condori led the league in home runs (50) and RBI (123) and posted a career best 7.8 WAR. That won him his first Silver Slugger as a DH. The next year, he socked 61 dingers with 7.2 WAR, which nabbed him a third in MVP voting. Condori was less dominant in 1990, but posted a league-best 123 RBI in 1991 to win his second Silver Slugger (this one at 1B). Callao also finally posted a winning season at 85-77, but even despite his loyalty, Condori opted for free agency. He’d still be loved by Cats fans and his #16 uniform would later be retired. He stayed nearby though, remaining in Peru and signing a one year deal with Lima. The Lobos were the two-time defending Bolivar League champ and Condori thought this would be his best shot to get that elusive ring. He won his third Silver Slugger in his lone season with the Lobos, hitting 49 home runs with 122 RBI. Lima improved their record to 103-59, but suffered a first round playoff upset to Medellin. It would be Condori’s only time playing in the postseason for his career. It also ended his South American career. Condori loved his native Peru, but it was hard to say no when MLB money came calling. For 1993, the 37-year old signed a three-year, $7,040,000 deal with Oakland. Condori started that year, but was firmly below average at the plate. After a mediocre start to 1994, the Owls released him in late June. Condori was unsigned for the rest of the season and retired that winter at age 38. For his Beisbol Sudamerica career, Condori had 2246 hits, 1195 runs, 270 doubles, 552 home runs, 1333 RBI, 658 walks, a .295/.353/.553 slash, 150 wRC+, and 66.6 WAR. The rate stats were certainly solid, but his grand tallies were on the lower end compared to other Hall of Famers. Condori also lacked big awards and was exiled on some truly awful teams. But he was very well liked and respected, which certainly boosted his case. Condori didn’t cross the 66% requirement by much, but 72.0% on his ballot debut got him in to round out the BSA 1998 class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)